Exams

ICAS Exams – International Competitions & Assessments for Schools

The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) are independent skills-based assessments with a competition element. Commonly referred to as the UNSW tests, ICAS is unique, being the most comprehensive generally available suite of academic assessments and school tests for primary and secondary school students. The assessments comprise eight Digital Technologies tests, eleven English tests, eleven Maths tests, eleven Science tests, five Spelling tests and ten Writing tests.

A new ICAS test is developed annually for each subject in each year level by our team of subject matter experts. All ICAS tests are reviewed by experienced teachers to ensure that they accurately assess students’ skills and are relevant to what they are learning at school. Some schools use ICAS as a placement test. Other schools use ICAS results as a component of  a student’s overall academic achievement for the year. While still others offer ICAS as a psychometric test to better understand what students can and can’t do at a point in time.

Each test is sat at the student’s school and is invigilated by teachers under normal examination conditions.

Administration Guidelines are provided to the schools with the ICAS papers to ensure that the same conditions are afforded to all students sitting ICAS.

Over one million student entries are accepted from over 6,300 schools in Australia and New Zealand annually. In addition, students from over 20 countries including Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the USA participate in ICAS each year.

ICAS 2023

Exam Dates

Digital Technologies – Wednesday the 9th of August at 7:30 am

English – Wednesday the  16th of August at 7:30 am

Science – Wednesday the 23rd of August at 7:30 am

Mathematics – Wednesday the 3oth of August at 7:30 am

Procedures for sitting Exams
When: All students must arrive no later than 7:15 am
Where: All tests will be sat in Rooms 17, 18 and 19.
Year 4 students will go to Room 17.
Year 5 students will go to Room 18.
Year 6 students will go to Room 19.
What to bring:
 – Students who have devices must bring these along for the testing.
 – They must bring their device to school FULLY CHARGED.
 – All students must bring a book to read at the completion of their test.
 – All students must bring pencils/pens for any working
 – Not permitted: Dictionaries, calculators, mobile phones and other personal electronic devices.
What to do when you arrive:
Place your bag on a hook outside the classroom you are doing your test in. Bring your laptop, book and pencil case with you. Quietly find a seat and follow the instructions on the whiteboard. Wait for further instructions.

Practice Test – Online Practice Interaction test:

Use the free online ICAS Practice Interaction Test   to become familiar with how to: 

  • navigate through a test
  • answer questions
  • scroll and expand parts of the screen
  • use the online ruler and calculator